I Looked Into Hanabishi Hotel

It's not just about campsites - I think there should be days when you feel like 'let's skip camping today and just relax at a hotel instead.' That's why, here on Komorin's Fantasy Travels, I keep researching these kinds of alternative lodging options as well.

This time, I looked into Hanabishi Hotel, located in Yunokawa Onsen in Hakodate. The long history since its founding in 1948, along with the phrase describing its sauna facilities as 'the first in Yunokawa Onsen,' caught my attention, so I decided to dig a little deeper.

I Looked Into What Kind of Hotel Hanabishi Hotel Is

Hanabishi Hotel is apparently located in the Yunokawa Onsen area of Hakodate City, Hokkaido. The official website clearly states 'HANABISHI HOTEL Since 1948,' and it seems to be a long-established hotel with over 70 years of history. Check-in is generally from 3:00 PM and check-out by 10:00 AM, though this may vary somewhat depending on the stay plan.

As for room rates, I couldn't find anything like a uniform price guide on the official website - it seems you need to check through the list of stay plans or the calendar instead. Reservations can apparently be made online or by phone. There also seems to be a perk where registering as an internet member gets you a 5% discount on bookings, so if you plan to stay repeatedly, it might be worth signing up.

Komorin

Just knowing that a place has been operating in the same spot since 1948 gives off a real sense of reassurance, doesn't it? I'm more of an indoor type myself, so I find myself drawn to the calm atmosphere of these long-running establishments.

Checking Out the Sauna and Large Public Bath Said to Be the First in Yunokawa Onsen

The hot spring water at Hanabishi Hotel is apparently a sodium/calcium chloride spring type. It's said to be odorless, highly moisturizing, and expected to help with fatigue recovery. The building reportedly has two large public baths with different atmospheres, plus an open-air bath overlooking the garden, so it seems like you could enjoy something like a hot-spring-hopping experience within the hotel itself.

What personally caught my attention the most was the 'automatic loyly sauna,' said to be the first of its kind in Yunokawa Onsen. It appears to have a mechanism that automatically performs loyly (pouring water over hot stones), which sounds like a nice feature for sauna enthusiasts. That said, I couldn't confirm specific operating hours for the large baths and sauna, whether there's a cold plunge pool, or whether day-use bathing is available, based on the official website alone. If these details matter to you, it seems safest to contact the hotel directly beforehand.

I Also Looked Into the Guest Rooms, Meals, and Access

The guest rooms apparently come in a variety of types, including Japanese-style rooms, Japanese-Western style rooms, and rooms with private open-air baths. In May 2026, a new room type called the 'Gagyutei Open-Air Bath Japanese-Modern Suite' is set to open, and in June 2024 the 'Japanese-Modern Twin Room' was also renovated - so despite being a long-established hotel, it seems to be putting real effort into refreshing its guest rooms. Barrier-free rooms also appear to be available. As for meals, being in a port town, the hotel is apparently known for its creative Japanese kaiseki course meals featuring fresh seafood. There's also reportedly a convention hall that can hold up to 400 people, used for banquets, meetings, and weddings (both Japanese and Western style). Since a wide range of baby goods is apparently available, it seems like a place that would also be easy to use with family.

In terms of access, it's apparently only about a 2-minute walk from the 'Yunokawa Onsen' streetcar stop, which is quite close. From Hakodate Airport, it's about a 10-minute taxi ride, or about a 15-minute bus ride (on the Tobikko bus) followed by roughly a 3-minute walk. With 140 free outdoor parking spaces reportedly available, it seems reassuring even if you're driving - but for someone like me who barely drives and doesn't own a car, that 2-minute walk from the streetcar stop feels especially convenient.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this location using the official \"My Area Network Simulation\" tool, the overall rating came out as 'C.' Since this is the result actually given by the tool published by the company, I'll just share it as is.

A 'C' rating suggests that connectivity might be somewhat unstable depending on the location and time of day - that seems like a reasonable way to interpret it. I couldn't find any clear mention of in-house Wi-Fi on the official website, so if a reliable internet connection matters to you, it might be a good idea to confirm when booking.

Komorin

As a Rakuten Mobile user myself, hearing a 'C' rating makes me a little nervous, but if you're using the hotel more as a staycation-style getaway where you spend most of your time indoors, relying on the in-house Wi-Fi could be a good option too.

Wrapping Up

Looking back over everything, Hanabishi Hotel gave me the impression of a place where tradition and freshness coexist - a hotel with a history dating back to its founding in 1948, while also putting effort into what's said to be the first automatic loyly sauna in Yunokawa Onsen and newly renovated guest rooms. With the convenience of being just a 2-minute walk from the streetcar stop, it also seems like an easy choice for people who don't drive.

On the other hand, since Rakuten Mobile's signal condition came back as a C rating, it might be reassuring to check the official Rakuten Mobile tool in advance if a reliable connection matters to you. There were also a few details, like room rates and sauna operating hours, that I couldn't fully confirm from the official website alone, so if you're actually considering staying there, it seems like a good idea to contact the hotel directly.

This article includes a referral link for Rakuten Mobile's employee referral campaign. For details, please see our Disclaimer & Advertising Notice.

Related Links

• Official Site